Publication

This bulletin examines 1) NATO’s decision at the 2016 Warsaw Summit to forward deploy combat forces on its eastern flank, and 2) the possible consequences of this decision on the Alliance’s relationship with Russia. The text’s author believes the deployment will significantly strengthen the credibility of NATO’s deterrence posture and boost its ability to respond to threats such as mass migration, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. However, other improvements remain necessary, including the ability of NATO forces to mobilize rapidly and reinforce forward-deployed troops with larger units.